MoT proposes stricter penalties for drunk drivers

HA NOI — The Ministry of Transport wants stricter penalties for drunk drivers to curb alcohol-related accidents. This is part of its draft on fines for traffic violations that are expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister next month, and take effect in December.

Accordingly, car drivers will be fined up to VND5 million (US$222) if they are found to have blood alcohol levels of less than 50mg/100ml, instead of VND3 million under the current regulation.

Drivers must pay VND8 million to VND12 million ($356-$534) as fines if their blood alcohol level is 50mg to 80mg/100 ml, instead of the current rate of VND7 million to VND8 million ($311-$356). Their driving licences will be suspended for three months, instead of two months as at present.

Drivers must pay VND14 million to VND16 million ($623-$712) in fines if their blood alcohol level is more than 80mg/100ml, instead of the current rate of VND10 million to VND15 million ($445-$667).

Bikers will pay up to VND7 million ($311) and have their driving licence suspended for two to three months. The proposed fines are double the amount of the current ones.

Statistics from the World Health Organisation showed that 36.5 per cent of all traffic accidents in Viet Nam last year were linked to alcohol consumption.

Vu Do Anh Dung, deputy head of the public security ministry's road and railway traffic police department, said stricter penalties for drunk driving was needed because of its serious consequences.

According to National Road Safety Committee, the number of alcohol-related accidents account for an average 16 to 20 per cent of all accidents in Viet Nam per year.

The rate was rising, Dung said.

The ministry also proposed to fine bikers up to VND4 million ($179), ten times the current fine, if they drove on expressways. — VNS